Cotton stripping comb



y 3, 9 L. G. FOWLER 2,934,877

COTTON STRIPPING COMB Filed April 11, 1958 INVENTOR Lamburh G. F ow/arATTORNEYS r F -f This invention relates to new and useful improvementsin cotton stripping combs.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved cotton strippingcomb having a plurality of flexible elements which are flexibly mountedand which are arranged to receive the stalks and branches of cottonplants therebetween for efficiently stripping bolls from the plantswithout breaking or uprooting the plants even though said plants are lowor bushy or have limher or large stalks.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved cottonstripping comb, of the character described, wherein the flexibleelements are closely-spaced and are independently mounted for movementrelative to each other for accommodating the passage therebetween ofstalks and branches of cotton plants or other matter of greater sizethan the width of the spaces between said elements or which branches orstalks are not alined with said spaces.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved cottonstripping comb, of the character de scribed, having means for coactingwith its flexible elements to assist in stripping bolls and sifting outdirt, leaf trash and other extraneous matter as well as to salvage loosecotton clinging to the plants, the upper portions of the elements beingcapable of vertical flexing and being vibrated by engagement with thecoacting means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an im proved cottonstripping comb, of the character described, wherein its flexibleelements are in the form of curved blades or elongated teeth havingtheir intermediate portions attached to independent supports whereby theelements and particularly their end portions may undergo movementrelative to adjacent elements and their end portions.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved cottonstripping comb, of the character described, having a rotary memberadjacent the upper ends of its flexible elements for striking the upperportions of the elements upon downward flexing thereof to limit theamplitude of movement of said upper portions while increasing thefrequency of vibration and its duration.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing,wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cotton stripping comb constructed inaccordance with the invention,

' Fig. 2 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of the comb,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the comb with the lateral movementof the upper portions of its flex ible elements being shown in brokenlines,

Fig. 4 is a view, similar to Fig. 3, showing lateral movement of thelower portions of the flexible elements,

s Patent Fig. 5 is a rear perspective view with parts broken away andshown in section of the lower portion of one of the outer comb elementsand its mounting, and.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the device disclosed inFigure 2 showing the relationship of the rotary member to the upper endsof the flexible elements and, in broken lines, the vertical vibration ofthe element.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my pending application,Serial No. 599,256, filed July 20,

1956, now Patent No. 2,830,424.

In the drawing, the numeral 10 designates the frame of a stripping combembodying the features of the invention and particularly adapted for useon cotton harvesters. The frame 10 includes a pair of upright, spacedside plates 11 which are substantially triangular and which are rigidlyconnected by a horizontal, transverse angle bar or cross bar 12.Elongated openings or slots 13. are formed in each side plate 11 topermit adjustable mounting of the frame on a cotton harvester (notshown). The angle bar 12 extends between the rear, medial portions ofthe side plates and has a plurality of forwardly and downwardlyinclined, elongated arms or members 14 depending transversely therefromin substantially parallel, spaced relationship for supporting inner andouter flexible stripper elements 15 and 16 in a substantially uprightposition.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 1, 2, and 6, a rotary member 17 isdisposed between the angle bar 12 andthe upper, rear ends of theflexible elements 15 and 16 and includes a horizontal, transverse shafthaving its ends journaled in the side plates 11. One end of the shaft 18carries a pulley 19 externally of the adjacent side plate for drivinglyconnecting said shaft by an endless belt 29 to a source of rotation (notshown). The member 17 is adapted to be rotated in a counter-clockwisedirection and has a plurality of substantially coextensive blades orvanes 21 extending tangentially from its shaft. Since the rotary memberis positioned adjacent the upper, rear ends of the flexible elements,its blades 21 are adapted to strike said upper ends when the same flexdownwardly as shown in Fig. 6 so as to impart vertical vibration to saidelements.

The upright flexible elements 15 and 16 are substantially arcuate orcurved and are disposed in closelyspaced, parallel relation to oneanother and to the side plates 11 so as to extend forwardly anddownwardly of the frame and longitudinally of the direction of movementof the harvester. As shown at 22. in Figs. 2 and 5, the intermediateportion of each flexible element welded or otherwise secured to thefront end of itssupporting arm 14 whereby the end portions of eachelement are free or unattached to any rigid member and the elements areindependent of one another. In order to increase the flexibility of theupper, rear portions of the elements and rigidity the lower, frontportions thereof, the points of attachment 22 are more closely adjacentthe lower, front ends of said elements. Each element is in the form of aflat blade or elongated tooth which is of greater width than thicknessand constructed of spring steel or other resilient material. It is notedthat the lower ends of the flexible elements extend forwardly of andbelow the front ends of the arms 14 so as to be in close proximity tothe ground G (Fig. 2) and that the upper ends of said elements extendslightly above and forwardly of the rotary element 17. Since theelements are in substantial alinement with their supporting arms, thespaces therebetween are unobstructed for receiving the branches andstalks of cotton plantsto strip bolls therefrom. I

The inner elements 15 are different from the outer elements 16 and havetheir lower ends pointed as shown at. In order to increase itsflexibility, the upper, rear portion of each element 15 is bifurcated bya medial, elongated opening or slot 24 which extends longitudinally ofsaid portion from its upper extremity to a point adjacent its attachmentto the arm at 22. A- similar opening or slot 25 is formed in the upper,rear portion of each outer element 16 but is oflset toward the innerlongitudinal margin thereof. Another opening or slot 26, of much greaterlength and adjacent the outer longitudinal margin of each element 16extends from its upper extremity to its lower end portion. Due to theslots 24, 25 and 26, each inner element has a pair of parallel, spacedfingers 27 at its upper, rear portion, while the upper, rear portion ofeach outer element has a trio of similar fingers 28 with the outermostfinger being of greater length and flexibility than the other fingers.Although the lower end of each element 16 is pointed, as shown at 29,the point is one-sided and extends toward the inner margin of theelement for directing the stalks and branches of cotton plants into thespaces between the inner and outer elements.

- Due to their flexibility and their flexible mountings, the stripperelements may undergo limited movement independent of and relative to oneanother. As shown in Fig. 3, the fingers 27 as well as the fingers 28are more flexible than the lower portions of the elements and mayundergo independent, lateral flexing. This movement is permitted by thereduced width of the fingers and the location of the point of attachment22 of the elements to thesupporting arms 14 at the lower portion of saidelement. Although the lower portions of the elements may flex laterallyas shown in Fig. 4, the same are more rigid than the upper portions sothat said lower portions may undergo little, if any, vertical flexing.Asa result, the lower ends of the elements do not have a tendency to diginto the ground G. This vertical rigidity and lateral flexibility of theiower portions of the elements are due, in part, to the length of thesupporting arms 14 and said arms being in the form of flat bars of muchgreater vertical width than transverse thickness. Since the fingers mayundergo vertical as Well as lateral flexing, the upper ends of saidfingers may move downwardly into the path of rotation of the rotarymember =17. Although the member limits downward flexing of the fingers,its blades 21 strike said downwardly flexed fingers so as to causevibration thereof for preventing the branches and stalks of cottonplants from hanging, breaking off and clogging the spaces betweenthe'elements. In other words, the frequency of vibration is increasedwhile the amplitude of movement is reduced.

This oscillatory or vibratory movement of the fingers is particularlybeneficial in sifting out dirt, leaf trash and other extraneous matteras well as in stripping bolls from the cotton plants and the passage ofbranches and stalks between the elements. The vertical flexing of thefingers or upper portions of the elements is primarily for the purposeof stripping bolls in coaction with the lateral flexing thereof. Also,the vertical flexing or vibration is prolonged by the rotary member soas to salvage loose cotton clinging to the plants. In addition todirecting trash and heavier matter rearwardly, the rotary member tendsto direct upwardly the loose cotton which may slip by the stripperelements.

Dueto the lateral flexing of the elements, the spaces therebetweenpermit the passage of plant stalks and branches or other matter ofgreater size than the width of said spaces. The flexibility and closespacing of the elements makes possible snug engagement with the branchesand stalks to eificiently strip bolls without breaking or uprooting theplants regardless of whether said plants are low or bushy or have limberor large stalks. Usually, the relatively-rigid, lower ends of theelements flex laterally to accommodate the passage of stalks of adiameter greater than the width of the space between said elements orstalks which are not in alinement with said spaces. As pointed outhereinbefore, vertical flexing of the lower ends is undesirable andunnecessary. Although the fingers increase the flexibility of theelements and provide a more efficient stripping action, it is noted thatsatisfactory resultscan be obtained without said fingers due to theindependence and flexibility of each element and its mounting. Likewise,the rotary element could be omitted, but its use is preferable and moredesirable because of the improved results obtained thereby.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof andvarious changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in thedetails of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scopeor" the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. A cottonstripping comb including a mounting frame having a substantiallyhorizontal member, a plurality of spaced arms extending transverselyfrom the member, and a substantially upright stripper element attachedat its intermediate portion to the outer end of each arm with its upperand lower ends extending thereabove and therebelow and being free fromattachment, the stripper elements being closely spaced for receiving thestalks and branches of cotton plants therebetween for stripping bollsfrom the plants and being independently supported by the arms forflexing movement relative to one another so as to prevent breaking anduprooting of the plants. I

2. A cotton stlipping comb as set forth in claim 1. including means onthe frame adjacent the upper end portions of the stripper elements forengagement with said end portions to limit vertical flexing of saidelements and increase the frequency of vibration thereof for preventingclogging ofthe spaces between said elements and for salvaging loosecotton.

3. A cotton stripping comb as set forth in claim 2 wherein the upper endportions of the stripper elements are more flexible than the lower endportions thereof whereby said upper end portions are vibrated byvertical flexing into engagement with the frame means.

4. A cotton stripping comb as set forth in claim 1 wherein theattachment of the intermediate portion of each stripper element to itssupporting arm is more closely adjacent the lower end of the elementthan its upper end whereby the lower portion of said element is lessflexible than its upper portion and is substantially inflexiblevertically.

5. A cotton stripping comb as set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper endportion of each stripper element has a longitudinal slot to provideflexible fingers.

6. A cotton stripping combas set forth in claim 1 wherein each stripperelement is in the form of a curved flexible blade in substantialalinement with its supporting arm whereby the spaces between the bladesare unobstructed.

7. A cotton stripping comb including a mounting frame having asubstantially horizontal bar, a plurality of substantially uprightflexible blades extending transversely of and spaced from the bar,theblades being closely spaced for receiving the stalks and branches ofcotton plantstherebetween for stripping bolls from the plants, andseparate means extending from said bar to the intermediate portion ofeach blade for independently supporting the blade whereby said'bladeshave freeend portions and may flex and move relative to one another forsnug engagement with the stalks and branches without breaking anduprooting the plants.

8. A cotton stripping comb as set forth in claim 7 wherein the bladesupporting means include spaced arms depending from the bar insubstantial alinement with the blades whereby the spaces between saidblades are unobstructed. V

9. A cotton stripping comb as set forth in claim 7 wherein the bladesare substantially arcuate and of much greater lateral width thanthickness.

10. A cotton stripping comb as set forth in claim 7 wherein the bladeshave their upper ends terminating adjacent the mounting frame, and arotary member mounted on said frame adjacent the upper ends of saidblades for striking the same upon vertical flexing of said blades tolimit the amplitude of movement and increase the frequency of vibrationthereof for preventing clogging of the spaces between said blades andfor salvaging loose cotton.

11. A cotton stripping comb as set forth in claim 7 wherein theattachment of the intermediate portion of each blade to its supportingmeans is more closely adjacent the lower end than the upper end of theblade whereby the lower portion of said blade is substantially rigid andinflexible vertically.

12. A cotton stripping comb as set forth in claim 7 wherein the upperend portion of each blade has a longitudinal slot to provide flexiblefingers.

Altgelt Mar. 6, 1951 Hartley Nov. 4, 1952

